The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is the oldest and largest public university in Tanzania. It is located about 13 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam city centre, on Observation Hill, and covers an area of approximately 650 hectares. The university was formally established as a national institution on 1 July 1970 through Parliamentary Act No. 12 of 1970, although its origins date back to 1961, when it was founded as an affiliate college of the University of London.
In 1963, it became a constituent college of the University of East Africa, and following the dissolution of that institution, it was reconstituted as an independent national university. UDSM was founded with three core objectives: to transmit knowledge from one generation to another, to advance the frontiers of knowledge through scientific research, and to meet Tanzania’s demand for highly qualified human resources.
The university initially comprised only the Faculty of Law, but over the years it expanded significantly with the establishment of numerous faculties and institutes. Several of these later evolved into fully independent universities, including Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and Ardhi University (ARU).
In more recent developments, UDSM has strengthened its role in teacher education through the establishment of the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) and Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), supporting national primary and secondary education development programmes.

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